Police- Ghost in the Machine 45th Anniversary- Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers 9-28

“Not our best seller,” Police founder/drummer Stewart Copeland cautioned me, as I waxed on about my personal belief that the creative reach which the talented trio displayed in Fall 1981 was the all-important bridge to Synchronicity and international superstardom two years later. Certainly no points off for that.

On The Police’s Ghost in the Machine, their fourth full album in as many years, the tight pop sensibilities which the Cops of Rock had manifested on their previous million-seller Zenyatta Mondatta were crystallized in Sting’s perfect singalong “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic”. But the white reggae beat on the verses of “Spirits in the Material World” were juxtaposed seamlessly on the rock 4/4 beat of the choruses;  the atmospheric electronic drone of “Invisible Sun” and “Secret Journey” takes the listener from dreamy to mystical; “Hungry for You” with Sting singing in French nevertheless needs no interpreter on the dance floor; and “Omega Man” appears to be the theme song to a movie yet to be made.

Stewart Copeland and Police guitarist Andy Summers join me In the Studio on the forty-fifth anniversary of the million-selling all-important Ghost in the Machine the week of September 28. -Redbeard